Chapter 5: Baron to the Rescue

Charisse swallowed back bile as she stood in a dressing room with some maid cats. They were chatting gaily over the topic of Charisse marrying the Cat King, saying things of joy and animation. Charisse didn't want to have anything to with the Cat King because he was so much older than her in years and he was so undesirable to the eighteen year old. She began spacing out but then she was brought back to the present by one of the cats running a brush through her brown hair.

"Sorry, Miss," chirped the maid, "your hair is so unruly. You're so lucky, Miss, to be marrying the Cat King. Anyone would be lucky to marry him. You're going to be a good queen, milady."

Anxiety welled up in Charisse's chest and she felt her stomach tighten. Trembles began to rip through her body, making it hard to stand, and she closed her eyes to try and calm herself. She took cleansing breaths but they didn't help or ease her anxiety. She tried to swallow but it got really hard because she felt like someone was strangling her. One of the maids' paws touched her back but it didn't ease her at all. Tears began running down her face at the thought of never seeing her family again.

"Tears of joy, Miss Charisse?" asked a maid, smiling at her.

The girl shook her head. "No," she whispered dolefully, "I'll never accept it. I'm only eighteen, not old enough to get married. It's not right. Baron…" She let out a groan and tears began soaking into her furry cheeks.

"Oh don't cry, Miss," said another maid, rubbing her back. "Once you get on the honeymoon, it'll get better, you'll see."

"Oh!" cried Charisse, letting her face fall into her paws, crying bitterly.

…

Meanwhile outside of the castle, Baron snuck in the walls and went looking for a disguise because the Cat King would probably recognize from before. He saw a cat wearing a nice suit and smirked to himself evilly. Silently, he crept up behind the cat and whacked him on the neck with his cane. With a groan, the cat fell forward and was unconscious. Looking around, Baron grabbed the cat and pulled him into a dark corner.

He quickly stripped of his beige suit and put the black strappy suit on. Then, he pulled off his hat and put on a mask to hide his face. This is like stealing candy from a baby, which I don't usually do…Still Baron smirked like a loon because of how easy it would be to fool the Cat King and his men. If he could do it once, he could do it again. Then he looked over at the cat he just knocked out and stole from and tied him up in rope and put a scarf over his mouth to keep him quiet while Baron did his job.

Here we go again, he thought as he walked into the main hall.

Through the slits of his mask, he could see the place being decorated like for a wedding and his heart jumped in his chest. He did not like the looks of this. Charisse was probably being coerced into marrying another prince or the Cat King himself. That thought made Baron throw up in his mouth because Charisse was still a child in his perspective and her getting married at eighteen did not seem prudent at all. She was too young and innocent to get married.

"Excuse me," said Baron, deepening his voice so the passing cat wouldn't recognize him, "what is going on here?"

"The King is finally getting a bride," answered the cat whom Baron recognized as Natoru, the yes-man lackey of the Cat King. "It's so wonderful that the King is getting a bride. She's rather lovely too. She seems like a fine cat for the King."

Shit, he swore mentally, the effect has already begun! He kept a stoic face though as he resumed talking to the over-excited cat.

"So, have you seen the bride yet?" he asked casually. "Where is she?"

Natoru smiled widely. "I have seen the bride and she is lovely," he answered, "but I can't reveal her whereabouts because it is forbidden to do so."

Before he could restrain himself, Baron grabbed Natoru by the fur and threateningly slammed him up against a column in the room. He gave the somewhat frightened cat a good, hard stare and began speaking in low and dangerous tones.

"You better tell me where the bride is, Natoru," he hissed, "or I'll make you into my next pair of boots. Where. Is. Charisse?"

Natoru began trembling under the Baron's intense gaze and he nearly caved but didn't.

"Surely you remember me, Natoru?" asked Baron rhetorically. "I was the one who came to save Haru, remember?"

Suddenly, the other cat's face lit up with recognition. "Baron?" he whispered so no one could hear. "What are you doing here? Why are you dressed like you're going to The Phantom of the Opera?"

"I've come to save Charisse," answered Baron quietly. "She's being forced into this like Haru was, Natoru. She's only eighteen years old; she can't get married this young. Tell me where she is. I need to get her home before her mother gets worried."

"Oh, my, my, my," sighed Natoru, rubbing his chin. "You're probably right. Miss Charisse is really young—too young to be a queen and wife—but how will you save her? The King knows who you are."

Baron smirked in a diabolical way. "Oh, don't worry," he said mischievously. "I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve. Just pretend I wasn't here." With that, Baron released Natoru and ran off.

…

Charisse walked down the aisle with her heart pounding rapidly and her stomach curdling unpleasantly. She looked through her veil and saw the Cat King smiling at her lecherously. Finally tears began to pool in Charisse's eyes but she wouldn't back down. She continued walking with her eyes determinedly fixed on the Cat King and she frowned in discontent. When she reached the alter, she faced the King with a single tear running down her cheek.

He slid the ring on her finger and she closed her eyes to block the onslaught of tears. She wasn't hearing the words of the priest because she was so caught up in praying for Baron to come and rescue her but he wouldn't know that she got kidnapped and forced to marry. Finally, the vows came and the Cat King said his crucial bit but Charisse just couldn't say it. It was too hard to say it without choking on the lump in her throat.

"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty," said a crisp British voice and a cat in a black tuxedo wearing a cape and a mask. "I must break up the wedding unfortunately."

The Cat King growled in displeasure. "Who are you, pal?" he demanded, glaring at the stranger in black. "I think I recognize you from somewhere…"

"Well, for those who don't remember…" said the stranger, pulling his mask off.

Charisse let out a loud gasp when she saw that the stranger was Baron! He was here to save her! Without a second thought, Charisse flung her veil back, picked the hem up, and ran down to Baron. When she reached him, she threw herself into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck in an anxious hug. To her surprise, she felt his strong arms wrap around her waist and held her close. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks and she let out wild gasps of sobs.

"Baron…Baron…" she wept, burying her face into his chest. "Y-you're here...you're really here…"

"It's all right," whispered Baron soothingly, rubbing her back gently. "I'm here…I'm going to take you home."

"Hold it, pal!" shouted the Cat King, alerting the hugging couple. "You release my wife right now!"

"You know me, Cat King! I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen," announced Baron loudly, "and I have come for Charisse!"

Charisse once again threw her arms around his neck and cried. "Oh, Baron!" she cried out, smiling.

The Cat King glared at the Baron and Charisse and ordered the guards to seize the couple. Baron grabbed Charisse in a tighter hug and pulled her away like a dashing hero would to save the princess. Just as the guards ran to capture them, Baron scooped Charisse up in his arms and ran to the balcony of the castle. Charisse could see the wheels in Baron's head turning and she knew what he was going to do so she tightened her arms around him.

Baron gave her a gentle look and leapt off of the balcony, holding fast to Charisse. The girl let out a loud scream and held onto Baron for dear life. She closed her eyes and buried her face into his shoulder. Suddenly, Baron landed on his feet and placed the shaking girl on the ground. She looked at him with wide eyes and gave him another hug.

"Thank you," she whispered quietly. "You saved me…"

Baron smiled but then he remembered that Charisse had to get back to the human realm by sunrise or she would be stuck as a cat forever. "Don't thank me yet, dear," he said, taking her hand in his. "We still need to leave the realm as soon as possible or else you'll be stuck as a cat forever."

Her eyes widened at that revelation and she tugged at his hand. "Then let's go!" she shouted, half-pulling him away. "How do we get out of here!?"

Baron managed to run faster than her and he pulled her along for the ride. "We need to get through the maze and make it to the top of the tower."

The two half-cats ran as fast as they could to get through the maze.

…

With Baron's help, the two made it to the tower and began rushing up the stairs. Finally, Charisse got worn out and stopped running to catch her breath. She saw Baron stop and look back at her in concern so she gave him a light smile.

"Don't worry," she said breathlessly, hand over her chest, "I'll catch up later."

However, Baron didn't take that as an answer. He ran back down to the girl, scooped her up in his arms valiantly, and continued running up the stairs. Charisse flushed but not because she was feeling hot or fatigued. As she stared up at him, she felt her heart rate increase and her cheeks flushed even more. She couldn't help feeling what she felt.

"Um…I can walk, you know," she said quietly, feeling flustered.

"Don't worry," breathed Baron as he carried her up the endless pair of stairs.

Charisse continued staring at him until he locked eyes with her. Then, she gasped, flushed, and looked away. Baron unwittingly felt his cheeks warm up too but he wouldn't let it get to him until Charisse was safe and sound. Finally, the two made it to the top and Baron set the girl down.

The wind whipped and rushed at them mercilessly but no one felt it more than Charisse. A sharp stinging sensation filled her body and it felt like she was stretching painfully. She felt the ears on her head shrinking and her normal ears were back. Her tail was now gone and the white fur disappeared, replaced by pale human skin. Suddenly, she fell backwards and was flying through the sky.

It felt like she was on a roller coaster ride but she didn't like it one bit. The wind rushed through her and she felt colder and vulnerable. She screamed at the top of her lungs for her mother, her father, or anyone who could help her. Finally, she screamed out for God to somehow catch her on a cloud. Just as she finished her prayer, she felt something wrap around her waist and she looked back to see Baron sitting on her back.

"Charisse!" he shouted over the wind. "Spread your arms and look down!"

Tears flowed from Charisse's eyes because of the adrenaline rush. "I can't!" she screamed, closing her eyes tightly as the wind current tossed her like a rag doll. "I'm scared!"

"Just trust me!" Baron shouted back, holding onto his hat so he wouldn't lose it.

Charisse felt like she could trust him so she opened her eyes and looked down. She could see the city beginning to wake with rising sun and a gasp escaped her open mouth. In spite of being afraid of heights, Charisse felt a rush sweep her body. It was so wonderful, this feeling of her heart rushing to her throat.

"Are you sure we're still alive?" she yelled to Baron, who held her hand in his smaller one.

"Yes!" he shouted back, giving her a look.

Before Charisse could speak any more, a tornado of crows caught her up and she started walking on them like a staircase. When she looked, she saw Toto, Baron's friend, flying alongside her. Baron sat himself on her shoulder like a conscience and he smiled widely.

"Perfect timing!" he shouted over to Toto, who smiled.

"Where'd all these birds come from?" asked Charisse, gazing at Toto anxiously.

"I had a few friends in the area," answered Toto, smiling at her.

"Thank you for helping us!" she shouted back to him. "Are you sure I'm not too heavy?"

"You're light as a feather, Charisse!" he yelled back to her, making the girl smile in joy.

"I'm finally going home," she cried, tears running down her cheeks. "Thank you so much!"

When she locked eyes with Baron, a warm feeling swept her body and she flushed again.

…

Upon reaching the ground, Charisse let out a loud sigh of relief and she smiled at Baron and Toto. She was totally happy that she was finally home. Now, everything was all good and she had nothing to worry about. Thanks to Baron, she was able to feel more confident in herself. She knew that she could fight for herself now. All thanks to Baron…She then leaned over and gave the Creation a gentle kiss on the cheek before heading home with him. Now, they could go home in peace.

A/N: Long but good, I hope! I hope you enjoy it! Please leave nice comments!